METHOD FOR PROTECTING SILVER AND SILVER ALLOY SURFACES AGAINST TARNISHING

摘要

A method for protecting silver and silver alloy surfaces against tarnishing, characterized by initially subjecting the surface to be treated to cleaning pre-treatment in organic solvents; immersing the cleaned surface in an acid solution able to ensure formation of a thin layer of silver oxide; immersing the oxidized surface in a solution of at least one thiol of formula CH3(CH2)nSH where n is between 10 and 16; and chemically reacting the molecules of said thiol with the previously oxidized silver surface, in an environment containing water vapor at a temperature of at least 50° C.